How do we differentiate between excommunicating someone who slanders the Prophet’s honor and the statements of Imams Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Mujahid that Noah’s disbelieving son was born of adultery?

The most probable interpretation of the noble verse: ﴿He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family"﴾ [Hud: 46] is that he is not of your believing family, who are deserving of salvation, and it is not a denial of his lineage, as other verses affirmed that he was his son.

While some of the Salaf, such as Al-Hasan (definition) and Mujahid, held that he was not his real son, which would necessitate attributing immorality to Noah's wife (peace be upon him). This contradicts the infallibility of the prophets and their wives and is rejected by the majority of scholars.

Despite refuting this statement, scholars did not disparage these imams; for they knew that their intention was to follow revelation, and that they strived and erred in interpretation.

As for the Rafidah, they adopt this view to disparage the wives of the prophets, which reflects their ignorance and inconsistency, because the disbelief of a son or father does not diminish the prophet, unlike an unchaste wife.